Day 1 :
Keynote Forum
Ali Bahloul
IRSST, Canada
Keynote: Efficiency evaluation of n95 filtering facepiece respirators to capture ultrafine particles under cyclic and constant flows
Time : 09:30-10:20
Biography:
Abstract:
Keynote Forum
Natalia Pozdnyakova
Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Keynote: Ligninolytic fungi: Their degradative potential and the prospect for the development of environmentally significant biotechnologies
Time : 10:20-11:10
Biography:
Abstract:
Ligninolytic fungi are taxonomically heterogeneous higher fungi characterized by a unique ability to depolymerizee and mineralize lignin. They include wood- and soil-inhabiting basidiomycetes and some ascomycetes. The extracellular, nonspecific, and oxidative enzymatic system of these fungi catalyses lignin degradation. This system includes lignin peroxidase, Mn-peroxidase, versatile peroxidase, and laccase, allowing the degradation of many persistent aromatic compounds with structures similar to those of the metabolites formed in the biosynthesis or degradation of lignin. Among such compounds are both individual substances [pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, halogenated aromatic compounds, nitro- and amino-substituted phenols, trinitrotoluene, synthetic dyes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] and their complex mixtures.
Enzyme synthesis is not repressed when the concentrations of these substances are too low to induce the enzymes. Therefore, the enzymes can degrade even low concentrations of pollutants. The catalytic action of the Ligninolytic enzymes gives rise to polar and water-soluble products, which are more accessible for both fungal metabolism and further degradation by the natural soil micro flora.
On the basis of a screening of basidiomycetes and ascomycetes, we selected the most active fungi for their degradative activity toward PAHs, nonionic surfactants, alkyl phenols, synthetic dyes, and oil. These fungi were found to hold promise for further studies and use in biotechnology. Despite some differences, PAH degradation followed the same scheme, first forming quinone metabolites and later forming phthalic acid, which is included in basal metabolism. All the investigated basidiomycetes and the ascomycete Cladosporium herbarum completely decolorized anthraquinone dyes, and both the chromophore part of the molecule and the aromatic ring were available for degradation. The site of attack on oxyethylated alkylphenols (the oxyethyl chain or the aromatic ring) was shown to be determined by the fungal species. The fungi were able to metabolize oil under submerged cultivation and in soil. Pollutant degradation was accompanied by the production of ligninolytic enzymes and of emulsifiers, substances that promote pollutant solubility and affect enzyme catalytic activity. The unique properties of Ligninolytic fungi make them promising for use in bioremediation, particularly if pollutants are difficult to decompose by bacteria.
- Environmental and Occupational health| Biomedical Waste |Human Health |Toxicology and Health | Pollution Research | Sustainable Goals | Biodiversity | Public Health
Location: Buttes & Oscars
Chair
Ali Bahloul
IRSST, Canada
Co-Chair
Natalia Pozdnyakova
Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
Session Introduction
Ali Emami Meibodi
Allameh Tabataba’i University, Iran
Title: The role of energy efficiency governance on environmental health and climate change
Time : 11:30-12:10
Biography:
Ali Emami Meibodi has completed his PhD from Department of Economics, University of Surrey, UK, in 1998. At present, he is associate professor of Energy Economics at Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, IRAN. He has published 4 books and more than 50 papers (some of them in the reputed English Journals) in the area of Energy and Environment subjects.
Abstract:
Energy and Environment issues are addressed simultaneously. Energy-use is a major cause of pollution and climate change. The extensive and inefficient use of exhaustible resources to meet energy demand worsens the levels of Green House Gases (GHG) emissions and Environmental Health. More articles have been written on the role of energy management in delivering energy efficiency. However, in this paper the emphasis is on the Energy Efficiency Governance. We look at the economics of pollution within the criteria of society’s progress. Only the economic progress is not enough. A society which able to address basic human needs, such as Social Health, Gross National Happiness and equip citizens to improve their quality of life, protect the environment, and provide opportunity for its citizens is succeeding. Therefore, the Chronological Evolution of Related Measures of the Society’s Progress is presented.
We shall lay the foundation for understanding the policy approach to controlling the pollution and improve the climate change. It is analysed, the environmental policies (international, regional co-operation and national policies) in relation to energy efficiency governance and Environmental Health. It is also shown, that Measurement and analysis of environmental efficiency and Green productivity have important policy implications for Climate change and environmental health.
Valery P Oktyabrskiy
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Russia
Title: The greenhouse effect
Time : 12:10-12:50
Biography:
Valery Oktyabrskiy specialist in the field of molecular spectroscopy. He has obtained his doctoral degree from the Leningrad state University. Currently he is an assistant Professor at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. His areas of interest included physics of the atmosphere including the "greenhouse effect".
Abstract:
Problem statement: in recent years, the influence by the atmosphere, in particular, the "greenhouse effect" (GE), on the climate is widely discussed by the international community. In accordance with the concept of GE the Earth's atmosphere is a "greenhouse glass" (GG). The aim of this study is to analyze the correspondence between the actually occurring physical and chemical processes in the Earth's atmosphere and the concept of GE. Methodology: the absorption of the solar radiation by the gases existing in the Earth’s atmosphere has been examined from UV to far IR region. It has been compared with the theory, including the theory of point groups of symmetry. Results: it was demonstrated that, despite the absorption of radiation from the Earth's surface in middle and far IR regions, there is strong absorption of overtones and composite frequencies of water vapor in the band of solar radiation (visible and near-IR spectral region), i.e., the bandwidth of the GG. Conclusions: the Earth’s atmosphere cannot be described by the conventional notion of the GE, and so it does not perform such a function. Therefore, the terms GE and "greenhouse gases" lost their original meaning. So, in our opinion, the processes occurring on Earth are, instead of the GE, those of the absorption of the heat flux of solar radiation (mainly by water vapor) and its reemission by the atmosphere. At the same time, the atmosphere absorbs and re-radiate thermal radiation coming from the Earth's surface into interplanetary space. And this process, which is one of the natural pathways by which the incident solar radiation penetrates the surface of the Earth and is re-radiated by it, of course, must be taken into account in the analysis of the atmospheric influence on Earth's climate.
Cheng-Kuan Lin
Harvard Chan School of Public Health, USA
Title: A global perspective on preventable cardiovascular diseases from sulfur oxides reduction in coal-fired power plants
Time : 13:40-14:20
Biography:
Cheng-Kuan (Calvin) Lin has his research interests on air pollution, power plants and related diseases, global burden of diseases at national and/or international levels and quality of life, quality-adjusted life year (QALY). After being physician for 1 year in Taiwan, He went to Arequipa, Peru as an NGO worker and wrote a first exhaustive travel guide in Mandarin in Taiwan. Now, he is currently doctoral candidate in Harvard Chan School of Public Health and conducts researches on energy policies.
Abstract:
Introduction
The majority of ambient sulfur dioxides (SO2) are from coal-fired power plants. Previous studies have shown the short-term effect of SO2 on cardiovascular diseases (CVD), which is the leading cause of both mortality and healthcare cost. We estimated the relative risks and incident cases of CVD and ischemic heart disease (IHD) attributable to SO2 emission from coal-fired power plants from a global perspective.
Method
National SO2 reduction was defined as the average SO2 reduction percentage weighted by generating capacities of individual plants in a given country. We applied a Poisson regression to analyze the relative risk of age-standardized CVD incidence associated with national SO2 reduction, adjusted for behavior, economic, and regional factors. CVD incident cases attributable to suboptimal emission controls are estimated in all studied countries, assuming every country can reach 95% emission reduction. We further applied subgroup analysis for IHD and rheumatic heart disease.
Results
A total of 13,581 power generating units in 79 countries that used coal as the primary energy source were included in the study. For 1% decrease in national SO2 emission from coal-fired power plants, the adjusted age-standardized CVD incidence rate could decrease by 0.03% for males and 0.17% for females, respectively. The effects on IHD are twice as strong as among males than females (0.28%, 95%CI=0.20%-0.36% vs. 0.12%, 95%CI=0.02%-0.22%). The average population attribution factors due to SO2 reduction were up to 1.43% and 8.06% for males and females, respectively.
Conclusion
Reducing SO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants has a marked association with the decrease in CVD incidence, especially IHD. Since SO2 emission is majorly from coal combustion, enhancing regulations on SO2 emission control presents a key target for national and international intervention to prevent CVD
Valery P Oktyabrskiy
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, Russia
Title: Greenhouse ozone and human health
Time : 14:20-15:00
Biography:
Valery Oktyabrskiy specialist in the field of molecular spectroscopy. He has obtained his doctoral degree from the Leningrad state University. Currently he is an assistant Professor at the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. His areas of interest included physics of the atmosphere including the "greenhouse effect".
Abstract:
Abstract
Problem statement: the environment is of concern to many people because of the impact on climate and therefore on human health. The aim of this study is to show that in addition to the thermal radiation of the Earth there is still such a natural source in the range of radiation (absorption) of the human body, which is also beneficial on it, as IR emitters.
Methodology: This work compares IR absorption spectra existing in the Earth's atmosphere gases with frequencies close to the frequency of the maximum intensity of thermal radiation (absorption) of human.
Results: it is shown that such a gas is ozone, whose absorption and re-radiation of thermal emission coming from the Earth's surface in the IR region is in the transparency window of the atmosphere. Due to the "greenhouse effect" (using conventional terminology) and the proximity of frequencies "greenhouse ozone" (GO) has beneficial effects on the human body because, as we know, the impact with the appropriate infrared energy with a wavelength of 9.6 microns causes a phenomenon called "resonance absorption", when the external energy is actively absorbed by the human body, fueling the energy. If the recharge is weakened, for example, because of the smog in major cities due to the strong scattering of radiation of the Earth and GO, the human feels much worse than in the woods or by the sea.
Conclusions: Need to protect the environment, no matter how traditional this conclusion is not shown, because nature itself gives natural sources of radiation, which are beneficial for human health.
Carmen Fusco
Research and Promotion of Women’s Health and Rights Association, Brazil
Title: Social determinants of health – from concept to practice in the outcomes of unintended pregnancies which result in induced abortion
Time : 15:00-15:40
Biography:
Carmen L. B. Fusco is President of “Research and Promotion of Women’s Health and Rights Association” Brazil. He has a doctoral degree in Collective Health. Main research areas are Social Determinants of Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, SDT’s, HIV, Unsafe Abortion, Women’s Health, and Women’s Rights.
Abstract:
The present research is a continuation of another one previously developed about unsafe abortion (UA), associated socio-demographic characteristics (SDC) and morbidity, and goes further in its analysis of the social determinants of health (SDH) that influence this occurrence, generating inequities in health
This study compared data of three groups of 51 women (total of 153) submitted to induced abortion (IA), as per situation and site of the procedure: one with “unsafe abortion” (Slum), one with “legal and safe” IA (Public hospital) and a third group with “illegal and safe” IA (Private clinics with appropriate standard of care). Univariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed for the three categories with Private as reference. In the final model (MMLR) , the variables that proved to have a statistically significant association with IA (CI=95%; p<0,05) were: income, level of schooling , ethnicity/color and place of birth for Slum and, for the Hospital location, the variable ethnicity lost significance. Morbidity, resulting from the outcome, showed a highly significant discrepancy between the first sample (Slum), with 94.12% of women who reported post-abortion complications, and the other two samples (Hospital and Private) in which no case of complication was identified or reported.
A critical analysis was also made on the influence of the SDH implied in abortion in all samples, and on the degree of inequity generated in each one (intra-group) and among them. We aimed to better understand SDH concepts in practice. Proposals of action/intervention related to the “entry points” and findings were also suggested.
Kharzi Rabeh
University Brothers Mentouri Constantine, Algeria
Title: Contribution to know the attitude and the cultural level of the healthcare professionals on the management system of the hospitable waste: case study
Time : 16:00-16:40
Biography:
Kharzi Rabeh currently working as researcher in University Brothers Mentouri Constantine, Algeria. He has pursued two post-graduation degrees they are Master in Management, Engineering of Transport System Maintenance and Post-graduation L.M.D at University of Mentouri
Abstract:
The waste of the activities of care is by their harmfulness, become today a major object of concern in the various hospitals, even in various private hospitals and local authorities. This waste engenders all over the world crucial economic, health and ecological problems. Among these wastes, we find hospitable wastes which represent the real threat to the public health and the environment. From now on, this chap of waste must be treated according to very specific procedures. In this work we are interested to know the level cultural security at the Constantine's hospital, for a highlighting of an action plan answering the sanitary and hygienic requirements of the waste of the activities of care (WAC) on the public health. This study has for global objective to give specific perspective, knowledge, attitudes and practices of the staff on the management system of the hospitable waste. As scopes we chose Constantine's hospitable university center in a purpose to bring new reflections on the sanitary impacts, the techniques and the measures the most adequate to the management of this type of waste, even manage to promote a culture of prevention within the Algerian establishments of health. The method of work is based on a questionnaire, an investigation led at the level of the hospital in question. The proposed approach will thus allow to analyze the cultural level in current security hygiene regarding waste management and to set up effective actions to improve the identified weaknesses. The work is forwarded by judged recommendations necessary regarding waste management.